The 2014 Senior Health Fair boasted a record number of booths, and the relaxed, social setting also featured ballroom-style dance lessons for activity and entertainment.

Attendees could visit vendors to learn more about senior-focused products, participate in activities such as chair yoga, and access free screenings for vision, skin cancer, blood pressure, balance and more. It remained difficult to keep up with the demand for our ever-popular cholesterol and bone density screenings and plans are in the works to increase availability in the next year.

Senior Health Fair, which is organized by the Geriatrics Club in collaboration with the Community Relations Department, provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn how to care for and interact with their future patients and community members, said Mary Ahlers, D.O.’17, 2014 Geriatrics Club President.

“Each year, our guests at the Senior Health Fair provide us with an irreplaceable chance to do so and a reminder that we are very privileged to be a part of the future of medicine and healthcare.”

Many participants commented that they look forward to the event, which is in its 10th year, annually. Evaluations from the event showed that many attendees plan to change their behaviors based on information learned at Senior Health Fair, be that seeing a dermatologist, increasing whole grains and fruits in their diet or stretching more.

Also introduced this year were cooking demonstrations and samples, fresh from our Wellness teaching kitchen.

Attendees at this free, public event can enjoy coffee and refreshments and wind their way through booths specially designed to promote the health and wellbeing of seniors. Screenings and services range from medication reviews, foot exams and nutritional information to Osteopathic Manual Medicine treatments, bone density scans and cholesterol testing. DMU also hosts outside organizations as vendors, to bring a wide array of health and aging resources under one roof.

“As students, we are here to learn how to care for and interact with our future patients and community members,” says Mary Ahlers, D.O.’17, Geriatrics Club president. “Each year, our guests at the Senior Health Fair provide us with an irreplaceable chance to do so and a reminder that we are very privileged to be a part of the future of medicine and healthcare.”

The Senior Health Fair is organized by students in the Geriatrics Club and is supported by many DMU student groups and departments. To find out more about the fair, call 515-271-1041 or visit www.dmu.edu/community/senior-health-fair.

# # #

Des Moines University (DMU) is the only private medical school in Iowa, offering graduate-level, professional degree programs in osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, biomedical sciences, anatomy, health care administration and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' pass rate on national examinations and board certifications is consistently higher than the national average and the rates at similar institutions.

Des Moines University’s annual Senior Health Fair is a day packed with health screenings, vendor information; give away items, demonstrations, food, and more! Whether you’re looking to improve your health, extend your life, or plan for the future, the Senior Health Fair is the place to be! Best of all, this is a free event, open to everyone age 50 and older! This year the event will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to Noon on the Des Moines University campus in the Student Education Center at 3300 Grand Avenue. There is plenty of parking and golf cart valets are available for those that may need assistance into the building.

The Senior Health Fair is not only a great experience for our students, it’s also a way for DMU to reach out and provide essential screening exams and information to all seniors, regardless of budget. Highlights of the day will include: influenza and pneumonia vaccinations by the Polk County Health Department, cholesterol/glucose screenings by the DMU clinic, Osteopathic Manual Medicine demonstrations from the OMM department, foot and ankle assessments from the Podiatric medicine department, medication reviews from Drake Pharmacy students, and much more!

Upon arrival, attendees will be asked to complete a postcard with basic demographic information. This information is used to track the number of attendees as well as provide them with information on the Senior Health Fair next year. Once they have completed the postcard they will be given a booklet which includes a map of the fair, information on each booth, and space to write any results from screening exams in which they participate. The last station at the Senior Health Fair will be a consultation with one of DMU’s faculty where attendees can discuss any results or any questions that may have stemmed from their visit that day. It is also recommended the booklet be turned into a family doctor or other provider so results can be added to the patient’s health record.

There are around 50 booths at the Senior Health Fair. This is a very attendee-friendly event in which booths are labeled by number in the booklet, but there is no order in which they must be visited. Attendees are encouraged to visit booths they are interested in, or those that pertain to their health history and, if time allows, any others.

The Senior Health Fair is organized by the Geriatrics Club and is supported by many DMU student groups and departments. It is truly a collaborative effort of many people in Des Moines resulting in a unique event that houses a great number of resources under one roof. Please share this event information with any senior family member or friend as we’d love to see them this Saturday. They won’t be disappointed!

]]>https://www.dmu.edu/dose/2013/10/hold-senior-health-fair/feed/0Senior Health Fair: A learning opportunity for allhttps://www.dmu.edu/dose/2012/11/senior-health-fair-a-learning-opportunity-for-all/
https://www.dmu.edu/dose/2012/11/senior-health-fair-a-learning-opportunity-for-all/#commentsMon, 19 Nov 2012 11:35:27 +0000http://www.dmu.edu/doseofdmu/?p=9603Each fall, DMU hosts a Senior Health Fair which is coordinated by the Geriatrics Club. Many of the clubs on campus participate in the health fair, providing screenings and information for hundreds of senior guests. There are also organizations from out in the community that participate and provide services and/or information.

This year the health fair was held on November 3. I had the privilege of organizing the booth run by the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA). We calculated our visitors’ BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, and discussed how these numbers were related to their health and cardiovascular risk. In addition, we were able to provide some great literature resources pertaining to weight, exercise, and nutrition after the age of 50.

We had an amazing turn-out of SOMA volunteers, who did an amazing job talking to and teaching our older guests. It was a great opportunity for the students to get some experience talking to real people about their health. Even our first year students really stepped up to the challenge and appeared to be quite comfortable with their roles. Everyone had a great time, and I think we ALL learned something that day.

I learned just how big of a role this health fair has come to play to some of our regular guests. It’s an opportunity for them to get tons of information on a wide range of topics, receive some really valuable health screenings free of cost, and get out in the community and socialize. They always seem eager to converse with a younger generation and enjoy the chance to play a real role in the education of new physicians. Many of these individuals have health issues and understand the importance of building a healthy supply of doctors for the future.

It was a great experience, and I strongly encourage all current and future students to get involved with these types of events. It’s valuable to both your education and to the people in our community.

Seniors can get blood glucose, blood pressure and bone density screenings. DMU students and physicians will be doing demonstrations of osteopathic manual medicine and offering manual treatments. Podiatric medical students will be screening for foot and ankle problems. Free medication reviews will be provided to seniors who bring a list of their medications for both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Seasonal flu shots will be available for a suggested donation of $15, but nobody will be turned away.

“Along with student participation, we typically have between 25 and 35 vendors from the community providing information and screenings as well,” said Melissa Wilder, manager of community relations at Des Moines University. “We always have a great turnout and we’re thrilled we can help people get the proper preventative care, regardless of budget.”

The Senior Health Fair is organized by students in the Geriatrics Club and is supported by many DMU student groups and departments. To find out more about the fair, call 515-271-1041 or visit http://www.dmu.edu/community/senior-health-fair.

# # #

Des Moines University (DMU) is the only private medical school in Iowa, offering graduate-level, professional degree programs in osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, biomedical sciences, anatomy, health care administration and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' pass rate on national examinations and board certifications is consistently higher than the national average and the rates at similar institutions.

Seniors can get blood glucose, blood pressure and bone density screenings. Des Moines University (DMU) students and physicians will be doing demonstrations of osteopathic manual medicine and offering manual treatments. Podiatric medical students will be screening for foot and ankle problems. Free medication reviews will be provided to seniors who bring a list of their medications for both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Seasonal flu shots will be available for a suggested donation of $15, but nobody will be turned away. Pneumonia shots will also be available.

“We have many folks from around Des Moines that attend this fair every year,” said Melissa Wilder, manager of community relations at DMU. “We’re thrilled we can provide these important health screenings and education for the public.”

The Senior Health Fair is organized by students in the Geriatrics Club and is supported by many DMU student groups and departments. To find out more about the fair, call 515-271-1041 or visit www.dmu.edu/about/campus for a map and directions to campus.

# # #

Des Moines University (DMU) is the only private medical school in Iowa, offering graduate-level, professional degree programs in osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, biomedical sciences, anatomy, health care administration and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' pass rate on national examinations and board certifications is consistently higher than the national average and the rates at similar institutions.